Starter for internal-combustion engines.



APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9,1915- Patented; Apr. 24,1917.

2 SHEETS-EHEET I.

H. T. THOMAS. STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9. I915- Patnted Apr. 24, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- wwmmi? BY W Q, fl 770E175 Y HORACE '1. THDLKAS O1 LANSING, MICHIGAN.

STARTER @013. INTERNAL-CDMBUSTIQN ENGIEIES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 24 1917.

Application filed December 8, 1315. Serial No. 65,997.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Homer T. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lansing, county of Ingham, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Starters for Internal- Combustion Engines, and declare the follow-- ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to starters for internal combustion engines and an objector my improvements is to provide a starter especially adapted to use upon an automobile.

- I accomplish this object in the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an appara tus embodying my invention with so much of an automobile as is necessary to illustrate its connection therewith.

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail elevation, the section being approximately on the line B-B Fig. 1.

F ig. 3 is a side elevation of the operating rin partly in section.

Big. t'is an edge elevation of the same.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevation on the line EE Fig. 1.

a represents the floor of an automobile. a is a supporting frame work secured to the chassis 0: a 0 is a socket, or sliding bearing piece, extending upward from the frame a through the floor a.

b is a rod fitting and adapted to slide in the socket 0. (Z is the engine shaft. 6 is a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft (Z. f is a sprocket wheel mounted concentric with the shaft 0? and adapted to rotate around said,

shaft.

71 is an electric motor for furnishing power for starting the engine. it is the operative shaft 'of the .niotorgi. g is a sprocket wheel upon the shaft h. j is a sprocket chain extending over and engaging the wheels j g.

k is a rock lever pivoted at 70 and having arms and 73 extending therefrom. The .lower end of the rod 7) rests upon the outer end of the rock lever l; and when the rod 6 is pressed downward said. rock lever is oscillated. c is a set-screw by which the travel of the rock lever 70 is limited 25' is a operation.

- n" is a socket in the ring n.

rod or plunger pivoted to the outer end of the arm a and extending vertically downward. is a coil spring acting to press the rod 5 downward and to hold the lever in in its normal position. v is a set screw extending upward from the outer end of an offset from the rod t. g is a vertically reciprocating rod bearing the contact plates r (Fig. 5) on its upper end which at the upper end of the travel of the rod 9', make contact between the binding posts 8 a and complete the circuit through the motor 2' setting said motor in ihescrew 0 contacts the lower end of the rod g and presses said rod upward setting the motor in operation, as above described when the rock lever is is oscillated.

u is a ring sleeved and adapted to turn a limited distance upon the hub of the wheel f (Fig. This ring is provided with a if-shaped groove 0 is a pawl adapted to engage in the teeth of the atchet wheel 6. The pawl o is secured upon a shaft 0 (Fig. 2) pivoted in-thc web of the sprocket wheel 7 and extending through said web at right angles to the plane of the wheel. 2) is a spring upon the wheel 7 acting to hold the pawl y'icldingly in its disengaged position. 0 (Figs. 2 and 8) is an arm extending at right angles from the shaft 0 at the opposite end of said shaft to that at which the pawl 0 is located. The

rod 0 engages at its end remote from the shaft 0 in the slot n m is a cylindrical brake band engaging in the groove 227- of the operating ring u. m is an eye bolt adjustably secured by the usual nuts to the frame 0?. One end of the brake band m engages through the eye of the bolt m mi is a spring connecting the outer end of the arm in with the end of the brake band 17?, remote from that which is secured to the eye belt of.

The operation of the above described device as follows:

Whon it is desired to start the engine the rod 7) is dem-essed oscillating the lever 73 and completing the circuit through the motor i which sets said motor in operation *ii 3' the sprocketwhool 57 and thereby rotatii f the sprocket wheel 7 by means of the chain The sprocket wheel 7 will turn freely carrying the operating ring 72 with it until the lever is is sulliciently depressed to put a tension upon the brake band m and thus retard the motion of the operating ring n" which w ll act through the wall of the slot n to oscillate the shaft and carry the pawl 0 into engagement with a tooth of the wheel (2. This will unite the wheelcf with the shaft of the engine and further inotion of the motor 2' will rotate said shaft and set the en ine in motion in the usual wa engine shafts including normally disconnected parts, frictional means cooperative witlrone of the parts to connect the parts and means under the direct control of the operator for rendering the frictional means operative.

2. In a starter. the combination of a'motor and engine shafts normally disconnected, transmission means between the motor and engine shafts including normally disconnected parts. frictional means cooperative with one of the parts to connect the parts, and means under the direct control of the operator for setting said motor in operation adapted to cause the action of said frictional means forthe purpose described,

3. In an apparatus of the kind described, an engine shaft, a ratchet wheel upon said shaft, a wheel adapted to be actuated by the starting-motor and to rotate free of said shaft, a pawl upon said wheel adapted to move into engagement with the teeth of said ratchet wheel. a friction operated part engaging said pawl eccentrically, and means for frictionally actuating the said part.

4. In an apparatus of the kind described, an engine shaft. a ratchet whccl'upon said shaft, a wheel adapted to be actuated by the starting motor ,and to rotate free of said shaft. a ring concentric and adjacent to said wheel, a pawl upon said wheel adapted to V move into engagement with the teeth of said ratchet wheel, said ring engaging said pawl eccentrirmllv, and means for applying frictional resistance to said ring.

In an apparatus'of the kind described,

an engine shaft. a ratchet wheel upon saidshaft. a wheel adapted tobe actuated by the starting motor and to rotate free of said shaft, a ring concentric and adjacent to said wheel, a pawl upon said Wheel adapted to move into en a 'ement with the. teeth of D B" said ratchet wheel, said ring engaging said pawl eccentrically a yielding means for ap plying frictional resistance to said ring.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification.

HOE-SAGE T. THOMAS. 

